Environmental Scanning Consultant (Tools & Templates)

Position Summary

The Environmental Scanning Consultant brings specialized expertise in environmental scanning tools, templates, and methodologies to systematically monitor the policy, research, demographic, and practice landscape surrounding marriage and TANF. This individual builds and maintains the frameworks and templates the team uses to track trends, emerging evidence, and stakeholder activity, ensuring the technical assistance remains current, anticipatory, and strategically informed.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop, maintain, and apply environmental scanning tools, templates, and protocols (e.g., PESTLE/STEEP frameworks, trend matrices, and scanning dashboards).
• Systematically monitor policy developments, research publications, demographic trends, and grantee/state practices related to marriage, family formation, and TANF.
• Produce periodic environmental scan reports that synthesize signals and trends into strategic implications for the TA effort.
• Build reusable templates and knowledge-management structures that the full team can use to capture and organize intelligence.
• Collaborate with the Policy SME and Research and Data Analyst to validate and interpret scanning findings.
• Facilitate horizon-scanning and strategic-foresight sessions with the team and, as appropriate, the client.
• Recommend proactive responses and TA opportunities based on emerging trends and stakeholder needs.

Required Qualifications

• Demonstrated experience designing and applying environmental scanning tools, templates, and methodologies in a research, strategy, or policy setting.
• Knowledge of the TANF program and the family-policy environment in which it operates.
• Familiarity with the social and economic research on marriage sufficient to identify and interpret relevant signals.
• Strong analytical, synthesis, and knowledge-management skills.
• Proficiency with tools for tracking, organizing, and visualizing environmental intelligence.
• Excellent written communication and the ability to convert scanning into actionable insight.

Preferred Qualifications

• Training or credential in strategic foresight, futures studies, or competitive/environmental intelligence.
• Experience supporting federal or human-services strategic-planning efforts.
• Familiarity with marriage, family-strengthening, and workforce-policy trends.

Education & Experience

Bachelor's degree required in public policy, social sciences, information/knowledge management, business, or a related field; Master's preferred. Minimum of five years of experience in environmental scanning, strategic foresight, research synthesis, or a closely related analytical function.